Electrolytic cell



I. HARRIS.

ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

APPLICATION FILED Aus.4, 1919.

J. HARRIS.

ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.4. 1919.

IAQQGS?. Patented June 20,1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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n IPITTSBUMEI, PENNSYLVANJIA, A COBPMTKQN @1F DELAWARE,

ELECTRLYKC CELL ineens?.

Bpeciicatiouot Letters Patent. Y Pggmmd June my, 1922 Application atedAugust d, ww.. serial No. 315,117.

Toallwhomtmyconcem: v Be it miown that ll, Jorrit Hannie, a citizen ofthe VUnited States, residing at Lahe- .wood','in the county of Cuyahogaand State 5 of Uhio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Electrolytic Cells, ol which the following is at'ull, clear, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsrllhis invention re ates to electrolytic cells such as are used for thegeneration of hydrogen and oxygen. 'llhe general object ot the inventionis to provide a cell or apparatus ot this character which is extremelyeflicient i5 in operation, which will prevent, the mixing ofthehydrogenand oxygen; and which will have a maximum capacity and outputfor the dimensions ci the plateslor electrodes einployed therein.Further and more limited objects of the invention will be realized inand through the construction and arrange ment oil the arts described inthe specification and enidied in the claims appended hereto. v

lin the drawings, Fig. l represents a cena tral vertical sectional Viewthrough a cell constructed in accordance with in invention; Figs. 2, 3,and t sectionahdetails corresponding respectively to the lines 2-2, B-d

and a-a of Fig; 1; ig. 5 is a view similar t0 Fig. 1 taken through thetanklor receptacle immediately within one of the `tvalls thereof,

the plates and diaphragme being broken away; and Fig. 6 a plan view of acomplete l cell.

Each cell shown herein comprises a unit consisting of a pair oicentrally arranged anode plates, cathode plates arranged on oppositesides of the anode plates, and dia.-

410 `phragms extending across the said' plates,

the diaphragms being spaced apart to provide a means for the escape tothe atmosphere of any stray gases While separating the oxygen and thehydogen and conducting a5 such gases to their respective outlets, witha. special construction and arrangement of parts for supporting andsupplying current to the plates nd for collecting the liberated gases.rlhe cell thus constructed is placed 5a within a suitable tank, and asmany of these cells or units may be employed as desirable, according tothe capacity of the apparatus, the cell or unit herein illustrated beingar- -rangw for connection in series with a like cell or unit. )In thedrawings,.a single cell is shown, the connections of the elementsthereof to corresponding elements of an adjacent cell bein obvious.

Descri ing the parts by reference charac ters, l denotes a pair ofanodes and 2 the 60 corresponding cathodes. rll`he anodes and cathodesare preferably of galvanized cast iron and s uare in outline. They aresubstantially i entical in construction; hence a detailed description ofan anode will suce for both elements. The front or nerating surface oteach anode is provide with a lurality ot vertical ribs 3, each rib being-shapedin motion, the sides of the V meeting in a line, for a. purposeto be explained hereinafter.v lln actual practice, l have made theplates l and 2 about twenty-seven inches square, with the ribs about oneinch apart, the ribs' projecting about. one-eighth inch from the frontface Il of each plate and the body of the plate being about one-fourthinch thick. 0n its rear face, each plate (anode` and cathode) isprovided with` a rib 5 extending therearound a. short distance withinthe margin orl periphery thereof and with diagonal ribs 6 intersectingeach other and the rib 5 at the corners thereof. Near each side thereof,the top and bottom branches or portions of the rib 5 are provided withbosses 7, each boss having a concave recess 8 for the reception of theconducting and suppgrting rods, indicated reswtively at 9 and|` Each ofthe cathod'es 2 is constructed in the saine'manner as the anodes lexcept that theA ribs 3 are staggered with respect to the ribs 3, beingarranged, when assembled, midway between the ribs on their correspondinganode. The back of each cathode will be provided with ribs 5a and 6corresponding respectively to the ribs 5 and 6 of the anodes. Eachcathodewill be provided at its back with bosses 7 similar to bosses 7,each v having a concaved recess 8 similar to the recesses 8. ln order tosecure the cathodes to their conductin and supporting rods,

indicated resctive y at 9 and 10a, each lug is provided with a clampingmember llhaving a concave rece cooperatin with the concave recess in thesaid lug an secured to mid lug as by means of a screw bolt 12. Theanodes are connected together and to their conducting and supportingrods by means of screws ,7b mounted in apertures c in the bosses 7.

When anodes ,and cathodes are assembled, the two anodes and each cathodewill be mounted within rectangular Allrannes each having a gascollecting chamber in the top thereoi, each frame being formed of achanneled strip of sheet metal having thev 'ii-anges presented inwardly.rlhe frame for the anodes is indicated at 13 and the two irames for thecathodes at 14.v `W hen the parts are assembled, the bottoms of theframes 13 and 14 extend below the bottoms or the' plates 1 and 2 and thetopslof the iframes extend considerabl, above the tops of the plates toprovide, with the cooperating side plates, collecting chambers for gaseseach having a seal of electrolyte extending preferably about a i'ootabove the ytops of the plates. To provide such a chamber for the'oxygen, l secure t0\ the top flanges 13 and side anges 13b of Athe frame13 sheet metal plates comprising each an inwardly directed body or web15, a top Hnge 151L and side anges 15b, welding the flanges 15t to theflanges 13 and the llanges 15b to the ,dan es 1'3". A short distanceabove the tops of t e anode plates, the bottoms of the webs 15 are bentoutwardly, as shown at 15, the danges 15" being broken away to permittheends ofthe outwardly deiiected'parts 15c to extend across the anges 13bas far as the outer edges thereof and to be welded thereto. llhere isthus provided above the anode plates a collecting chamber formed by thesides and top of the frame 13 and by the insetl plates 15. From thecentral portion of the top of the frame 13 there extends a pipe 15 forconducting oxygen to a suitable collector.

Each of the Aframes .i4-is constructed in substantially the same manneras the frame 13, and a collecting-receptacle is provided within theupper portion of each of the frames 14 in the ,same manner as is thecase with the frame 13. 16 denotes the web' orfV body of one of theinset platesapplied to each side of the frame 14,- 16a the top Viangeand 16b the side flange of each plate where-f and 16".l These strapsserve as a securing means for the upper ends of the diaphra s.

it will be observed that the outer ensnbf the ribs 3 are in the planesof the outer edges of the channel flanges of the frame 13; also that theouter ends of the ribs 3a are each in the plane of one of the bhanneldanges ci3 the rames 14. Cooperating with 'the anode plates are thediaphragms 18, said diaphragms being preferably oi asbestos cloth. Thediaphragms 18 may be conveniently made trom a single piece oif clothformed into a bag whereby it may be fitted tightly around the frame 13and be drawn into close engagement with the ribs 3, being-*secured tothe frame 13 by lmeans of a pair 0I" channel clamps 20. The upper end 75of the bagmay be slotted and each side 18a thereof may be drawn aboutthe corresponding bars 17 and fastened thereto, as by stitching. Thediaphragms will Contact i closely with the bottoms of the out-deectedportions 15c of the plates 15, a close and leak-proof contact bemgassured by spacing the bars 17 so that the diaphragms will be bent abovesuch bottoms inwardly, or toward the webs 15.

Similar diaphragms 21 will be applied in like manner to the cathodeplates and to their frames 14, the upper endsof the diaphragme beingdrawn around the outer bars 17 and secured thereto' and the bodies ofthe 9o diaphragme being secured to the said iframes by means of channelclamps 22v similar to the clamps 20.-

lhe bottom web 'of each of the frames 13 has secured thereto a pair ofinsulating bosses 23, said'bosses being adapted to receive the rods 8and v9 respectively. ln the top web of the frame 13 there is `aninsulating bushing 24 through which the conducting rod 8 extends; and tothe other side of 100 saidweb there is secured a block of insulatingmaterial 25 which receives the upper end of lthe supporting or steadyingrod 9. Similarinsulating blocks 25a are secured to the bottom webs ofthe frames 14 while the top web ofeach said frame is provided Awith abushing 24a and an insulating block .25a

- similar to the parts 24 and 25but arranged at opposite ends ofytheframeLcFrom the,

`central`p` rtiony of 'tlietoppf'eachframey 14 1'10 there extendsapipecor'lnecftlon'2.526v for cony v ducting hydrogen'to a suitablereceptacle.

llhe`ll parts above described are inserted as a unit withinl asuitablereceptacle 27, the

said receptacle being of such length and width as to enable the assemblyto fit snugly therewithin. l

With thel parts constructed and arran ed as described, the receptacle 27will be lil ed with electrolyteV to a point a short distance belew; thetubes 15 and 26. This electrolyte will stand at the same level withinthe collecting chambers formed by the tops of the frames and the wallsor plates 15 and 16,

vabove the anodes and cathodes respectively.

Current being suppliedto the conductor 9 will decompose the electrolytein the usual manner. The oxygen generated from the outer faces of theanodes 1 will ascend within the spaces provided by theA diaphragme soFVthe cathode plates will ascend in the spaces provided between thediaphragms 21' and the ribs 3a, will strike the inwardly deected ends 16of the plates or walls 16, will enter the collecting chambers formed bythe plates or walls 16 and the frames 14:, and will be conducted throughthe pipes 26 to a suitable collector. Because of the tact that thecontact between each diaphragm and each rib is a line contact, therewill be no surface for the formation of a film ot liquid at this point,and hence there will be no loss of gas, the diaphragms, as explainedhereinbeore, being drawn tightly across said ribs and engaging ti htlythe lower deflected ends of the side wals ot the plates of thecollecting chambers. The level of electrolyte in the variously collectinchambers of each unit will be the same, slnce the collecting chambersare of the same transverse.` area and vthere will be twice as muchhydrogen geners escape around the lower ed es of the dedectors 15c and16 or throug the diaphragms such gas must escape to the atmosphere andcannot mingle with the other gas in its collectin chamber or deliveringpipe. Even should t e pressure of gasin one of the receiving tanks besulicient to depress the electrolyte in its collecting chamber therewill be no minglin of the gas with the other generated gas. lgn thatcase,.should the Ipressure ol the as be sullicient to force it throughits diap ragm, it would escape directly to the atmosphere through theyspace between said diaphragm and the diaphragm adjacent thereto.

'lhe channel clamps 20 are advantageous, not only as a meansfor securingthe diaphragms in place, but as a means for accurately positioning andspacing the anodes and cathodes and the diaphragme therefor. 'lhe cellis readily adaptable tor such varial,tions in voltage and amperage asexist in commercial electricalinstallations, and the cells or units maybe" connected in parallel as well as in series.

Havin thus described my invention, 4what l c aim is:

l. ln an electrolytic cell, the combination.

lecting c amber above said plates, saidv chamber having the bottomsl ofits sidewalls dedected downwardly and outwardly with the lower endsthereof in the planes of the said ribs ot said plates respectivel adiaphragm ext/ending across the ribs o each ont said plates and acrossthe lower edges ot the corresponding chamber walls, an electrode platecooperating with each of the lirst mentioned plates and each having ribsiii a lace thereof presented toward such lirstmentioned plates, acollecting chamber for each ol the last two plates and each havinga sidewallhaving its bottom detlected downwardl and inwardly towards theoutwardly de ected plate of the first mentioned collecting chamberad'acent thereto, and adiaphragm for each o the last two plates entendiacross the ribs thereof and across the edected lower end'y of the wallAot its collecting chamber.

2. ln an electrolytic cell, the-combination oit a pair of anode platesarranged back to back and each having in its outer face a plurality ofvertical V-shaped ribs, a col' lecting chamber above said plates, saidchamber having the bottoms of its sides detlected downwardly andoutwardly with the lower ends thereof in the planes ofthe ribs of saidplates respectivel a diaphra y extending across the ribs o each of saiplates and across the lower edges of the corresponding chamber walls, acathode plate cooperating with each anode plate and each having ribs ina tace thereof presented towards an Y anode plate, a collecting chamberfor each cathode plate and each having a side wall having its bottomdedected downwardl and .inwardly 'toward the outwardly de ecm` plate ofthe anode c'ollectin chamber adjacent thereto, a diaphragm or eachcathode plate extending across the ribe thereof and across the deflectedlower end ofthe Wall ol itscollecting chamber, a kconductor rodinterposed between the anode plat/esy and electri ally connectedthereto, a supperting rod -interposed between and connected to saidanode plates, and a conducting rod and a supporting rod secured 'to eachof said cathode plates. f

3. In an electrolytic cell, the combination of a plate having lf-shapedribsprojecting from one face'thereol, a supporting trame for said plate,means for securing said plate to said frame with the ribs thereof insubstantially the plane of one lof the lateralr edges of said trame,there being'a collecting chamber provided within the upper portion ofsaid frame, one of the walls of said chamber having its lower enddeflected outwardly into the plane of said ribs, and/adiaphragm Isecured to said trame and extending across said ribs and across thedelected end of the to the dangesot each trame, within the up# thereof,each wall having itsv deflected. outwardly into the plane acent flangeof its frame, a pair of u lates within the central frame, bedeflectedlower ends of 'the walls respectively and each having subally lef-shapedribs in the plane of the end of its cooperating wall, a frame ach sideof the central frame and each having a flange at the top and sides ofthe lateral edge which is adjacent the central a if/all secured to theflange of each of the last mentioned frames, the lower end each suchwall being deflected into the plane of its flange, an electrode plate ineach of the last mentioned frames and having lf-shaped ribs in the planeof such lower end of the wall thereabove and of the flange correspondingthereto, diaphragms extending across the ribs of said plates and acrossthe lower ends of the walls corresponding thereto, channel shapedclamping and spacing members for securing said diaphragms totheirrespective frames, and means for securing the upper ends of saiddiaphragme above and in engagement with 'the deected portions of their`respective walls. v j

ln an electrolytic cell, the combination of a pair of oppositely facingelectrode plates each having projections on the outer face thereof, anelectrode plate facing and spaced `from each of the first mentionedplates and having projections prese'ted toward the projections on suchfirst mentioned plates, a collecting chamber above and common to thefirst mentioned plates and plates having the bottoms of its sidesdeflected outwardly above said plates, a collecting cham-v ber aboveeach of the other plates and each having its inner wall deflectedinwardly above 'the inner surface of its plate, and diaphragms securedto the said frames and extending across and in contact with' theprojections of said plates and the lower ends of the walls of theirrespective collecting chambers.

6. ln an electrolytic cell, the combination of a pair of oppositelyfacing anode plates each having projections von the outer face thereof,a cathode plate facing and spaced from each anode plate and havingprojections presented toward the projections on its cooperating anodeplate, a collecting chamber above and commony to lthe anode plates andhaving the bottoms of its sides deflected outwardly above said plates, acollecting chamber above each cathode plate and each hav'ng its innerwall deflected in- 6o wardly above the inner surface of its cathodeplate, diaphragme secured to the frame for the anode plates andextending across and in contact with the projections on said plates andthe lower ends of the walls of their col lecting chamber, a diaphragmextending acrossthe projections on each cathode plate and across 'thelower edge of the inwardly deflected wall of its collecting chamber, andmeans forspacing the anode plates and their diaphragme from the cathodeplates and their diaphragme. e

l'. ln an electrolytic cell, the combination of a collecting chamberhaving side walls the bottoms whereof are deflected outwardly and eachprovided with flange ends above its bottom, a strap secured to theflange ends of each wall above the deflected lower end thereof, a pairof" plates below said walls, each plate having projections on the outerface thereof in substantially the plane of the lower end of the wallthereabove, and a diaphragm extending across the projections of eachplate and across the deflected end of the chamber wall thereabove anlsecuredto the strap above such deflected en 8. In, an electrolytic cell,the combination of a collecting chamber having a wall provided with adeflected lower end and with flanged ends above such lower end, a strapsecured to the flanged ends of such wall above the lower deflected endthereof, a plate below said wall, said plate having projections .on theouter face thereof in substantially the plane of the lower end of saidwall, and a diaphragm extending across the projections of said plate andacross deflected end of the chamberwall thereabove and secured to thestrap alcoveA such deflected end.

9. ln an electrolytic cell, the conbination of a supporting frame havinga channeled upper end and channeled sides extending downwardlyfrom saidupper end, a pair of plates each having outwardly extending flanges atits top and sides, each of said plates being secured to one of the topflanges and to the side flanges corresponding thereto. of said frame andeach plate having its lower end deflected outwardly into the plane ofthe side flanges corresponding thereto, a strap secured-to the flangedends of each of said plates above the deflected lower end thereof, apair of plates below the outwardly deflected walls and each havinglprojections in substantially the plane of such lower deflected end ,ofits wall, a diaphragm secured to each strap and extending across thedeflected end of the wall therebeneath and across the projections on thelate corresponding thereto, and a channe clamp applied to each side ofsaid frame for securing the diaphragms thereto.

l0.- l'n an electrolytic cell, the combination of a luralify of openframeseach having a col ecting chamber in the upper portion thereof, anelectrode plate suspended within each of said frames, said electrodeplates each ,having projections in one.face thereof in substantially theplane of the lower edge frame spacing means. for securing said dia`phragms to said frames..

l1. ln an electrolytic cell, the combination:

of a frame comp-rising an upper portion and slde portions and having acollecting cham- -ber in the upper portion thereof, the lower ed e ofeach side Wall o f said 'chamber being inrrsubstantially the plane of 4aside of Such frame, a pair of electrodes withinsaid frame and below thesaid chamber, each electrode having rojections in substantially theplane of a s1 errof such frame, a diaphragm extending around the saidframe in contact with the projections on saidv electrodesyand with thelower edges of the side walls Lof Asaid collectin chamber, and meanscooperating with t e opposite portions of saidV framefor securing saiddiaphragm thereto.

l2.' lin an electrolytic cell, the combination of a frame comprising anupper portion and side portions and having a collecting chamber in theupper portion thereof, the lower edge of Veach side wall of said chamberbeing in substantially the plane of a side of such franca aA pair ofelectrodesv within said frame and. below. the said chamber, eachelectrode having'projections in substantially the plane of a side ofsuch frame,` and'a diaphragm extending. around'the said frame in contactwith the projections on said, electrodes and with the lower edges of theside walls of said collecting chamber.

13.. An electrolytic cell comprising, in

l combination, agcasing, a centrally located frame within said casingand comprising an upperportion and side portions depending from suchupper portion, a similar frame located oneach side vof the firstmentioned frame, Teach' of 'said frames having 'within the upper portionthereof a' collecting cham'- ber,.each collecting chamber having a pairof side walls each having its lower edge in substantially'the plane ofsa side of such tframe, an electrode located within each side centralframe and each having out-- ofthe extendin projections in substantiallythe plane o the bottom of the chamber j wall thereabove, anv electrodewithin the phragm lextending about each of said frames r yinner sideofeachofthe other frames and eachha inwardly extending projections in.substantially the plane ofy the. bottom of the chamber Wall thereabove,and-a diaand across the bottom edges of the chamber walls thereof.,

14. Air electrolytic cellv Ithereof. v

v Y i signature. j comprising in, comblnation, a;ca'smg,acentra1-lylocated frame withinsaid casing and comprising an upper portion and sideportion depending from such upper portion, a similar framel located oneach side of the first mentioned frame, each of said frames havingwithin the upper portion thereof a collecting chamber, each collectingchamber having a pair of side walls each having its lower edge insubstantially the plane of a side of such frame, anelectrode-locatedwithin each side of the central frame and each havingoutwardly extending projections ain substantially the plane of thebottom of the charnber wall thereabove, an electrode within the innerside of each o-f the other frames and each having inwardly extendingprojections in substantially the plane of the bottom of the chamber wallthereabove, adiaphragm extending about each of said frames and acrossthe bottom edges of the chamber -walls thereof, and a channel-shapedclampsecured tol said frame and extending across j the projectionsont-,he electrode and across the lower edge of the wall of thecollecting chamber thereabove.,

16. ln an electrolytic cell, the combination 0f a plurality of openframes, each having a collecting chamber in the'upper portlon thereofyprovided with a wall having its 'lower edge in substantially theplaneof one side of such frame, an electrode plate suspended within' each ofsaid frames each late 'having projections in one face thereof elow andin substantially the plane of the I bottom edge of the chamber wall forsuch frame, a diaphragm extending around each.

frame and across thebottom 'edge of the wall of thev collecting chambercarriedyby such frame and in contact with the projections of theelectrode plate for such frame,

plied to opposite sides of each frame and .securing itsvdiaph'rag'gmthereto and -servmg to space the` said frames'and thediaphragm In testimony whereof, hereunto aiiix my ioHN Hansis.-

and'channel-shaped clamping membersapl

